Intellectual Property

I advise businesses, consultancies and innovators on the protection, management and commercial exploitation of intellectual property. My work focuses on helping clients identify their key IP assets, protect them appropriately, and use them strategically in commercial, technology and growth‑driven contexts.

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IP audits and strategic IP planning

A strong IP position starts with understanding what you own and what matters for your business. I assist clients with:

• IP audits to identify registered and unregistered IP assets, including copyright, trademarks, designs, domain names and know‑how;
• assessing ownership and control of IP created by founders, employees, consultants and collaborators;
• developing proportionate IP strategies aligned with the client’s business model, markets and growth plans.

IP audits and strategy work are particularly valuable for SMEs, consultancies and technology businesses preparing for investment, partnerships or international expansion.

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Copyright and unregistered IP rights

Under English law, copyright protection arises automatically in original works, including software, documentation, databases, marketing materials and creative content. I advise clients on:

• identifying and securing copyright ownership;
• managing copyright created by third parties, contractors and collaborators;
• protecting and enforcing copyright in commercially important works;
• structuring contracts to avoid uncertainty around authorship and exploitation rights.

In technology‑driven and AI‑enabled projects, particular attention is paid to copyright ownership, reuse rights and downstream exploitation.

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Registered IP rights: trademarks, designs and related filings

Certain IP rights require registration and are subject to territorial and substantive requirements. I advise on:

• trademark protection, including registered and unregistered marks;
• design protection for functional and aesthetic elements;
• assessing whether registration is commercially justified in light of the client’s business strategy and markets.

My advice focuses on fit-for-purpose protection, rather than registration for its own sake.

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IP licensing, commercialisation and transactions

I regularly assist clients with transactions involving IP assets, including:

• IP licence agreements (exclusive and non‑exclusive);
• commercial exploitation of IP through partnerships, platforms and service models;
• IP assignments and transfers, including in business sales and restructurings;
• domain name and related IP transfers.

These arrangements are often closely linked to technology, data and commercial contracts, and require careful alignment of ownership, usage rights and revenue models.

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IP risk management, enforcement and dispute preparedness

I advise clients on managing IP risk and protecting value over time, including:

• identifying infringement and misuse risks;
• preparing enforceable contractual protections;
• supporting enforcement strategies and dispute preparedness;
• aligning IP governance with regulatory and data‑protection obligations.

My approach emphasises prevention and clarity, helping clients minimise disputes while preserving the strategic value of their IP assets.

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Recent Experience:

Advised a client operating an augmented‑reality platform and developing 3D content, including non‑fungible tokens, on the copyright implications of creating 3D avatars based on existing 2D works, and prepared associated IP assignment and licence arrangements to support the client’s platform model.

Advised a world‑renowned designer and manufacturer of advanced display technology on the termination of an exclusive patent licence following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, including analysis of licence termination rights and implications for ongoing use of protected technology.

Participated in advising global technology companies, as well as fashion and footwear retailers, on intellectual property strategy, protection and enforcement, including the preparation of registration applications and opposition submissions.

Participated in advising a leading manufacturer of personal mobility products on the global protection and enforcement of its intellectual property rights, and on the selection of appropriate forms of IP protection aligned with its business plans and international expansion.

Advised a boutique hospitality business facing threatened trade‑name infringement proceedings from a competitor, and assisted the client with negotiations and the implementation of a revised name and visual identity to mitigate legal and commercial risk.

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